The "Pleiades Dances" is a series of solo piano pieces written by contemporary Japanese composer Takashi Yoshimatsu. They are, in the words of the composer, "a newly conceived set of preludes for the modern piano which takes its material from the seven colours of the rainbow, the seven pitches of church modes, and seven metrical units ranging from three to nine beats."*  

The "Pleiades Dances" were written between 1986 and 2001 in sets ranging from I to IX. Each set of Pleiades Dances contains 7 movements, which "are not placed in the order in which they appear in the work for any specific structural or contextual reasons, nor should too much be read into the curious titles [he gave] them."* Yoshimatsu, in the preface to these works, encourages free interpretation of these pieces "including tempo, dynamics and frequency of repetition," and suggests that "It may also be enjoyable to play along with the rhythm by a small percussion instrument like the triangle or the tambourine."  Each set, however, seems internally dependent, so that within one set of 7, the order can be freely arranged, but the character of each set differs noticeably between each set. 

The Pleiades are a star cluster in the constellation Taurus.

*Yoshimatsu, Takashi (1996). Introduction by the Composer. In Takashi Yoshimatsu: Pleiades Dances (p. 5) [CD liner notes]. DENON RECORDS/Nippon-Columbia Co., Ltd.

Negative Prelude (from Pleiades Dances II, Op. 28) by Takashi Yoshimatsu

Harry Breuer (1901-1989), one of the great mallet players and composer of highly original xylophone solos such as "Back Talk," "On the Woodpile" and "Bit O' Rhythm," achieved fame in the 1920s when he was a soloist in the big United States movie houses. He broadcasted from New York's Roxy Theater, played the major radio shows during the 1920s and '30s, recorded for Warner Bros. and Fox Movietone, and finally joined the NBC radio staff where he played for such conductors as Robert Russell Bennett and Skitch Henderson. In the 1940s and 1950s Breuer was featured in several films, and during the 1950s he recorded four feature record albums including Mallet Magic. Leaving broadcasting in the 1960s, he continued as a freelance artist and joined Carroll Sound in New York as a consultant.

* Profile from the Percussive Arts Society (PAS)

Temptation Revamp by Harry Breuer

Dreadlocked (2001) was originally written for amplified violin, cello and marimba, electric guitar, and keyboard by Mar Mellits. The piece was subsequently arranged for Ricochet Duo--the piano and marimba duo of Rose Chancler and Jane Boxall--in 2009 by the composer with the title "Postcards of Dreadlock." (www.marcmellits.com)

Postcards of Dreadlock by Marc Mellits

Who d'Alpha / Sniffin' Breezes / Squirrel Spotting

"Playtime with Elvis and Krispy" was commissioned by Rose Chancler for Ricochet Duo as part of its "The Woodswoman Project: a tributie to Anne LaBastille." 

Composer Doug Opel (BMI) writes that "the work is in reference to pianist Rose Chancler's dog Elvis and "Woodswoman" Anne LaBastille's dog Krispy Kreme who like their humans struck up a lasting friendship."

Playtime with Elvis and Krispy by Doug Opel

"Miao Dances" is the fourth movement from Chen Yi's China West Suite, which was originally written for two pianos and then transcribed for marimba and piano. Commissioned by Ithaca College professor Jeffery Meyer, China West Suite explores a variety of folk songs from the China West region in four movements, each named for a different group of people. 

This Riochet Duo performance was recorded at NYS Presenters Network Artist Showcase (Tribeca PAC, NYC) | January 11, 2014

RICOCHET DUO

Miao Dances from China West Suite by Chen Yi

Mark Mellits’ unique musical style is an eclectic combination of driving rhythms, soaring lyricism, and colorful orchestrations that all combine to communicate directly with the listener. Mellits' music is often described as being visceral, making a deep connection with the audience.

Red is comprised of six short movements, each relating to each other much like a baroque suite. The overall structure of all six movements together forms the pacing and strategy of the music. Both marimbas remain interlocked to one another and create a music fabric by combining their sonorities in tightly woven patterns. There is no moment in the work where one instrument could survive without the other. Together, these two ‘brothers’ work hand in hand to form a single musical mind. Red was composed entirely in Bucharest, Romania in the summer of 2008. ---Marc Mellits

This Ricochet Duo performance was recorded at Higher Ground in Burlington, VT | April 9th 2017.

Red by Marc Mellits

Solstice was commissioned by Ricochet Duo as a tribute to the self-described "Woodswoman" Anne LaBastille. "Kestrel" is the 4th section of the work. 

This Ricochet Duo performance is from the world premiere given and recorded at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts in Adirondack Mountains in New York State | August 17, 2014

Ricochet Duo

Kestrel from Solstice by Hilary Tann (2014)

Ricochet Duo is the piano and marimba duo of pianist Rose Chancler and percussionist Jane Boxall. 

Ricochet Duo

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